sushmita071

Hi there, I think it would help if you were more explicit about your current background and your intended area of research. I guess what you could do now is show strong research skills within your current specialty track. And I guess at the PhD level the school ranking isn't as vital, more important would be work that you do during that period, advisor rep, networking, pubs, etc etc.. (well you already know all that [^] ! And I guess prof sucking might help as well. (If there's anything more to that list please let me know as well.. :p )

Hi, From what one can interpret, you prolly have an admit, just some formalities left. However is it the grad college or division that has to make the final decision? You may be better off asking them about the actual process rather than spending anxious days!

Hi Laura, I am planning to attend the UIC beginning fall 04. From the info I received on my I20, the monthly living expenses are estimated to be around 1100$ per month. I had also emailed a few current students at the UIC, and I understand thru info emailed back from them that the living expenses amount to somewhere between 600-800$ per month (shared off campus housing rent+food+travel+utilities). Haven't much info about the neighbourhoods etc yet though! Hope this was some help... Sushmita.

Thanks guys! I really appreciate that input from you vishwa. You'r right about motor control and the University of Southern Calif. More news is that I got funding as well at USC! [banana]!! However still have to think cause the conditional admit could be a problem... I have talked with the faculty about that, and hope I get to attend USC!! Otherwise its UIllinois. Talked with the proffs there at both the schools stating frankly that I had admits at both, so which could be the better option for me as well as their research- I got really frank and honest answers, and it helped a lot to make that decision! Thanks guys, and good luck to all!!

Hi Mrscrexiel, Just curious to know if you did talk with the program directors regarding the two programs and which was better? How was the response.. offended or helped?

Hi there, Getting sort of panicky now! Have to say yes or no to univ's about acceptance, and its very difficult to assess which would be the best place to pursue PhD, since the research interest matches strongly at all four places, have financial aid at all four, and problem is I don't have source to first hand info regarding the programs as I don't have any alumni, or contacts. Hard to believe but my current Proffs aren't very likely to help as well... Can you guys please please thrown in any help? 1) UFL: Good Univ, Only one proff working in my research area, but has built up a good research unit there. Area of research is very familiar to my own current work and background. Only one student accepted this Fall-2004. 2) University of Illinois- Chicago: Three to four proffs working in area of interest, good match, exciting research though somewhat little different than what I have a background in, but nonetheless quite interesting, and exciting. 3)University of Iowa: Three proffs working in my area of research, again, somewhat different from my current background. Proffs are really NICE, Cooperative, been in contact with me thruout the apping process, and seem really interested in taking me in. Quite a good rapport I've built up there. (Thats the most important reason i'd attend there- having had a chance to know and talk to the Proffs well has made me sort of comfortable) Have to tell yes or no there within a day now! 4) University of Southern California: Ranked #1 in my program, good research unit, no news about funding (they haven't replied to my emails!), have a conditional admit there- the condition seems hard to fulfill. Only attraction: Rank, Quality of research. 5) Arizona State Univ: Only have news about admit, match of interest is ok kind.. out of consideration really. Can you guys please please help me out? I'd really appreciate all help. Its like one decision that can make or break a career it seems right now! Thanks..

Hi there, Come up with some interesting queries about the program/research/offer letter and hope that you gain some more time for making a decision. In the mean time, hog the other university for a reply! Good luck to you.

Hi guys, Anyone apped in areas of Motor Control for PhD? I currently have admits from: University of Oregon PhD University of Iowa PhD University of Illinois Chicago PhD Arizona State University PhD University of Southern California PhD Hopefully I should get into Indiana (Bloomington) PhD as well. Just wondering if anyone has any insights to share about the above uni's. Research interest wise, I'm most interested to attend USC. Its the closest match. But trouble is that I have a conditional admit there saying that I would have the admit only if I have completed my Masters (which I am currently pursuing) by a particular date (which I feel might not be very likely!) How to go about it? Thanks. I would really appreciate any feedback!

Hi all, I wanted to know what all factors play a role in deciding which PhD program to choose finally? For someone who cannot visit the university etc prior to making a final decision.. how much and what all can you ask them through emails in order to get to know the program and advisor better?

Hi, I got mine done thru WES. The university recommended WES, and now most others accepted that eval as well.

Hi all, I was curious if the admission decisions had been made for my program, so I wrote an email to the grad secretary of my intended department at the UFL. She replied back saying I had been admitted, and in fact she had just received my admissions file back from the admissions committee. Then wrote who would be my advisor, and said she would soon prepare an official offer letter to be mailed out to me. Then a few hours later I got another email from the grad secretary, saying that though the Department had accepted me, the graduate admissions committe was still reviewing my transcripts. Hence she would have to wait till they finished review of my trasncripts before she could send out my official offer letter. This is confusing. Is it that the transcript review is a formality of sorts, and the final admission decision is made by the Department? (Wishful thinking!) Or is that even though the department has accepted an applicant, the grad school can still cancel that admissions decision and so the student not be admitted eventually?! This is really killing. And plus, they send off such emails on friday 5:00 PM... so that you spend the next two days in killer suspense, before you can email them on Monday morn!!

Also, here again they've mentioned in the FAQ's section: 2. Some of my documents are missing. How can I get this sorted out ? If the university has sent a letter that your documents are missing, that means they have not received them on that date. If it's GRE/TOEFL scores, either they have not received them or they have been put up on a different name (first name, last name interchanged). Please send an email to uic_incoming@yahoogroups.com with your name, SSN (if you have been given one by Univ) and DOB so that one of the UIC students can check up. So prolly its one of the UIC students there who check it out and get back to you about your missing app materials. With all these back up plans at UIC... I think UIC is majorly notorious for losing things!! I haven't seen such a feature at any other place I apped to!! :)

Yeah you're right. Sharing one's app id might not be such a good idea maybe on a group. But as I said previously, I came across this link while looking thru the Indian Graduate Students Association at UIC's homepage. The part-info in red was a copy paste of what it says on their home page. http://www2.uic.edu/stud_orgs/cultures/igsa/uicinfo.htm This is the link. I think its members are Indian grad students currently studying there (UIC), who've formed a group sort of, to help out the incoming grad students from India. I haven't communicated with them since the grad coordinator for my program replied to my email and phone call, and I was able to know the status for my app first hand. Ketan and Vasu had some probs communicating with their grad coordinator and department head, and I felt some students who're currently studying there might be able to help out especially since they mention it explicitly that they will get back to you with the status of your app. Nothing wrong with trying it out if nothing else is working!

Hey Ketan and Vasu... Here, this might help you guys... If you have applied to UIC and waiting to hear from UIC/ received letters that some of your information are missing, please send an email to us (uic_incoming@yahoogroups.com). One of the IGSA members will email you regarding your status. For this please send your Full Name, DOB and SSN (if you have already been given by the University). Try emailing them... it might help. Was just looking thru the Indian Grad Students web site at UIC when I came across this feature. Hope your probs are sorted out soon! Good Luck...

Hi there Vinay and all, As I said previously, try to call up and clear up the confusion. I am saying this by personal experience. It helped not only to clear the confusion, but helped establish a link of sorts... so that everytime I get "something missing snail mail and on those rare occasions email, (for notorious OAR UIC won't let us mortals rest in peace without giving us hazzar pain and sleepless nights over materials they lose!!) its much easier to write to that one person-link there who can promptly check back things and notify what exactly is missing this time on yer app file... I hope they don't lose anything much now, since they're prolly making decisions there right now! Goodluck with all your app materials!!